Electric switch of the mercury tube type



4 a A a o x 15 5 2 F Y W vvh\/// I I u b TORNEY Aug. 2, 1932. l. E. MCABE ELECTRIC SWITCH OF THE MERCURY TUBE TYPE Original Filed July 4,1928 INVENTOR IRA E. th CABE Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES IRA E.MCCAIBE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ELECTRIC swrrcri or THE MERCURY Turn TYPEI Original application filed July 4, 1928, Serial No. 290,287. Dividedand this application filed li'ovember 24, 1930. Serial No. 497,848.

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches of themercury tube type in which there is a mercury to mercury make and breakand this application is a division of Serial No. 290,287, filed July 4,1928, and

is a continuation orfurther development of the invention disclosed in aplicants'prior Patent No. 1,7 57 ,436, dated ay 6, 1930.

It is an object of this invention to isolate one of the terminals of theswitch in a cup of insulating material adapted to contain a small bodyof mercury with the other terminal acting as a support for the cup andalways in contact with the main body of mer- 16 cury in a mercury tubeswitch, so that when the tube is operated in one direction the main bodyof mercury will overflow the sides of the isolating cup, make anelectrical contact with the mercury contained therein and 20 through thecontained mercury tothe isolated terminal and when operated in theopposite direction will flow away from said cup and break the electricalcontact through the small body of mercury that remains in the cup andthereby break the circuit through the switch.

While the preferredforms of this invention, as applied to particularforms of mercury tube switches, are illustrated upon the accompanyingsheet of drawing, it is to be understood that minor detail changes maybe made without departing from the scope thereof. 1

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a view-in central vertical section, withparts shown in side elevation of.

an embodiment of this invention to a magnetically operated mercury tubeswitch. V

Figure 2 is a similar view of another application of this invention tothe type of mercury tube switch shownin Figure 1. s

Figure. 3 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 2 illustrating thisinvention applied to another form o f'the same general type of switch.

Figures-1, 2'and illustrate the application of this invention to a formof mercury tube switch in which the tube is arranged in a verticalposition with the terminals supported within a cylinder of magneticmaterial in engagement with the main body of the mercury which is raisedor lowered, as the case may be, ,by a magnet surrounding the tube tochange'the' level of .the main body of mercury to make or break thecircuit.

In Figure 1, the tube 1 is held in a vertical position, as shown, withthe lead "in wires or terminals 2 and 3 sealed in spaced apart relationin the thickened upper end 4 of the tube. A cylinder 5 of magneticmaterial is arranged within the tube floating upon the main body 6 ofthe mercury contained therein. The cup 7, constructed of insulatingmaterial having outwardly flaring lips above a circumferential grooveand adapted to contain a smallbody of mercury, is held by the lead inwire 2, as shown, above the nor mal level of themain body 6 of themercury with the other lead in wire 3 terminating within the small body8 of the mercury contained within the cup 7. An electro-magnet 9 isarranged about the lower endof the tube 1 which 'whenenergized will drawthe magnetic cylinder 5 downward Within the main body of the mercurycausing its level to as cend and submerge the cup 7 whereby anelectrical connection is made between the lead in wires or terminals 2and 3, when the main body 6 engages the small body 8 of mercury. Whenthe magnet 9 is deenergized the magnet cylinder 5 is released and willascend until it again floats in the main body of the mercury causing itslevel to descend and break the connection. It is preferable to pro videthe bottom of the cylinder 5 with shock absorbers, such as springs 10,to prevent the breaking of the tube when the magnet 9 is energized. Itis also obvious that a permanent magnet may be substituted for theelectro-magnet which may be. mechanically moved up and down about thetube 1 to cause the magnetic 'cylinder to make or break the circuit.

In Figure-2, both ends of the tube 1 are thickened, the upper end 4sealing spaced apart lead in wires 11, both of which termi- I nate inthe small body of mercury contained within the cup 7, which is supportedby one of the lead in wires 12 sealed in the lower end 13 of the tube,the other of which terminates within the main body 6 of the mercury inthe tube 1. The lead in wire 12 supports the cup above the normalsurface of the main body of mercury and the magnetic cylinder 5 isoperated to vary the level of this mercury to make and breakthe circuitin the same manner as described above in relation if to Figure 1. Inthis form the switch may be employed in a high amperage circuit, thepassage of which through the customary single lead in wires would heatthe same to a degree that would endanger the glass seal 'thereabout.

In Figure 3, the normal operation of the switch is reversed. The tube 1is so formed to be of less vertical length by forming the upper portionreentering the main body of the tube, as shown, with s ace between thewalls of both portions to al ow the magnetic cylinder 5 to pass up anddown therebetween.

In this form the thickened upper end 4 seals and supports the lead inwires 2 and 3 with the lead in wire 2 supporting the cup 7 normallysubmerged within rthemain body 6 of the mercury within the tube and thelead in wire 3 terminating within the small body of mercury contained inthe cup. The magnetic cylinder 5 normally floats upon the main body 6 ofthe mercury with its lower portion submerged therein causing the levelof the mercury to normally be above the cup 7'. The

' electro-magnet 9 in this type is arranged about the upper portion ofthe tube 1 andthe parts are so proportioned that uponenergizingof themagnet the magnetic cylinder will be drawn upward out of the main body,of the mercury whereby its level will descend below the bottom of thecup 7, as shown, and thereby break the circuit through the switch. Whenthe electro-magnet is deenergi'zed the magnetic cylinder will bereleased and enter the main body of mercury which will'be caused to usethereby and submerge the cup and again close the circuit through theswitch.

What I claim is:

1. An electric mercury tube switch comprising a vertical sealed tube, amain body I of mercury contained therein, a member of magnetic materialnormally floating there upon, lead in wire's sealed in an end of thetube and extending therein, one supporting acup of insulating materialnormally contaming a small body of mercury therein above the normallevel of the main body of mercury. and another terminating within saidsmall body of mercury within said cup, and a magnet adapted whenenergized to draw the magnetic member within the main body of mercurycausing the mercury to rise in the tube, submerge the said cup and closethe circuit between the respective lead in wires and when deenergized torelease the member to emerge from the main body of mercury v whereby thelevel of the mercury will descend end of the tube, whereby a circuit ofgreater amperage than can be carried by a single lead in wire withoutdanger to the seal is distributed, one set of lead in wires passingthrough the main body of mercury andexteriorly supporting the said cupwith the other set terminating in the small body of mercury within saidcup, and a magnet adapted to draw the magnetic member within the mainbody of mercury causing it to rise and engage the mercury withinthe-said cup and thereby'close the circuit.

3. An electric mercury tube switch comprising a vertical sealed-tubehaving its upper portion bent back upon itself to reenter the main bodywith a clearance between the respective side walls, a cylinder ofmagnetic material adapted to. travel within said clearance, anelectro-magnet-adapted when energized to raise and hold the saidcylinder at its upper limit of travel, a main body of mercury within thetube having its normal level adjacent the lower end of said cylinderwhen in its uppermost position, lead in wires sealed in the re-entrantend of the tube, one embracing and angularly supporting a cup ofinsulating material normally containing a small body of mercury abovethe normal level of the main body and the other terminating within themercury contained in said cup, whereby the switch circuit is brokenbetween the respective lead in wires, said cylinder adapted when themagnet is deenergized to drop into the main body of the mercuryand-cause the'level of the mercury to rise until the 'cup issubmergedtherein and thereby close the circuit between the respective(lead in. wires. I 4 4. An electric mercury tube switch including avertical sealed container, a mainbody of mercury contained therein,aplurality of electrodes extending through and sealed in the containerwalls, a cup of 'insulating material containing a:small body of mercuryembraced and supported by one of the electrodes above' the normal levelof the main body of mercury to receive the end of a com plementaryelectrode submerged in the mer cury within the cup and insulated fromthe 5 other electrode, a freely moving member of magnetic materialmounted within the container, and an exterior magnet adaptedto impartmovementto the magnetic member to cause .t-he main body of the mercuryto l overflow the cup and contact with the small body of mercurycontained therein to close the circuit between the complementaryelectrodes. R IRA E. MGCABE.

